AUSTIN | The Independent | 690 FEET | 58 FLOORS | Complete

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by drummer

I like this building. I see the General's point that is looks like it may have been involved in an earthquake...I was thinking Jenga blocks, personally, but it works for this one, haha. I think having a couple buildings that stand out architecturally in a skyline are okay, but not all of them or even a lot of them. Since we don't have any truly unique architecture in our taller buildings, I'm all for it with this one.

Honestly, this doesn't even stand out all that much. It's nice, but the offsets aren't dramatic enough to immediately catch your attention. It's a subtle detail, and I appreciate it imho.

[lzppjb]

Views from the Penthouse (above the 55th floor):

North


East


South


West


All pics are screenshots from their website.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Honestly, this doesn't even stand out all that much. It's nice, but the offsets aren't dramatic enough to immediately catch your attention. It's a subtle detail, and I appreciate it imho.

You're right - doesn't stand out that much, but enough to be different, which is the same reason I like it. I was telling my wife about it and she asked if it was like one we saw in Singapore last year:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SingTel_Ayer_Rajar_Telecommunications_Tower.jpg

[tonystark]

I think it looks more like a swanky version of Mukesh Ambani's house in india:

[GoldenBoot]

When including the mechanical penthouse's screening, this thing has to be near or slightly exceeding the 700' mark.

When reviewing LONESTARMIKE's screen shot...look at the spire of 360. At it's pinnacle, it is 580' above grade. The roofline of the Independent looks to be about 100' taller than 360's spire then add the screening to that...just a quick observation.

SCRAPERWILL or H2O: can either one of you confirm this. It seems both of you have intimate access to the specs of this tower. -Thanks

[GoldenBoot]

http://www.independentaustin.com


Look at the floor-to-ceiling height differential between 360 and Independent. Seems to be quite a disparity. Even a 6" to 12" difference in ceiling height can make a huge impact on the feel of the space.

[AustinGoesVertical]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

Look at the floor-to-ceiling height differential between 360 and Independent. Seems to be quite a disparity. Even a 6" to 12" difference in ceiling height can make a huge impact on the feel of the space.

Definitely. The Independent will have 10 ft ceilings. With 12 ft ceilings this one clears 750'. It will be interesting to see if they reconsider the ceiling height. I think pre-sales will ultimately dictate the final height of this one. They can always add or subtract a tier based on market demand. The building's block design caters to those types of changes.

[_Matt]

Wow, that screen cap.

If not dramatic in details, the offsets alone draw the eye at a subconscious level. I believe part of the brain sees it and perceives it differently than more "traditional" buildings that look stable.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

Definitely. The Independent will have 10 ft ceilings. With 12 ft ceilings this one clears 750'. It will be interesting to see if they reconsider the ceiling height. I think pre-sales will ultimately dictate the final height of this one. They can always add or subtract a tier based on market demand. The building's block design caters to those types of changes.

If they are still in the process of securing financing, I seriously doubt they will add to the cost of development even if pre-sales are great. If anything, they will cut costs. Adding height will increase the overall cost of development. It is what it is at this point.

I will say that if it is in the 10' neighborhood, that's pretty poor...considering how much they are talking up this building as being a trend setter in design and luxury. Gloating about how this tower will rise above all others and will be the tallest residential tower west of the Mississippi. Hey there guys, if this get's built to the 685' height, you only beat out #2 by 2'. And that building is only three blocks (or so) east of you. And, if I am not mistaken, may even have a higher occupied floor than the Independent, plus higher floor-to-ceiling heights.

Anyway...

[Jdawgboy]

There's also discrepancies to consider when looking at the renderings. The rendering from the south where it shows the 360 to me looks off. The Independent doesn't seem much taller than the 360 spire. It's alittle more than 100 feet so I would think there would be more of a noticeable difference in height.

Also looking at the east facing picture from the height where the 55th floor will be it seems that it would be level with the Austonian's crown. Of course level 55 and 56 are within the crown but if this tower is supposed to be 58 floors, that really shows you the difference between what 12' ceilings and 10' ceilings do for the overall height of the building.


If Waller Park Place 2 ends up in the same height area it will be like going from the 400 footer plateau to a new imaginary plateau stuck in the 680 to 700 foot range. The developers could be playing a cruel game to see who can get just a little higher than the Austonian without hitting 700 feet. Lol

[Spaceman]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

There's also discrepancies to consider when looking at the renderings. The rendering from the south where it shoes the 360 to me looks off. The Independent doesn't seem much taller than the 360 spire. It's alittle more than 100 feet so I would think there would be more of a noticeable difference in height.

Also looking at the east facing picture from the height where the 55th floor will be it seems that it would be level with the Austonian's crown. Of course level 55 and 56 are within the crown but if this tower is supposed to be 58 floors, that really shows you the difference between what 12' ceilings and 10' ceilings do for the overall height of the building.


If Waller Park Place 2 ends up in the same height area it will be like going from the 400 footer plateau to a new imaginary plateau stuck in the 680 to 700 foot range. The developers could be playing a cruel game to see who can get just a little higher than the Austonian without hitting 700 feet. Lol

Start building now!!! This endless babble about a foot here or a foot there is useless. If a project is announced,then start the next day!!!

[AustinGoesVertical]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

If they are still in the process of securing financing, I seriously doubt they will add to the cost of development even if pre-sales are great. If anything, they will cut costs. Adding height will increase the overall cost of development. It is what it is at this point.

I will say that if it is in the 10' neighborhood, that's pretty poor...considering how much they are talking up this building as being a trend setter in design and luxury. Gloating about how this tower will rise above all others and will be the tallest residential tower west of the Mississippi. Hey there guys, if this get's built to the 685' height, you only beat out #2 by 2'. And that building is only three blocks (or so) east of you. And, if I am not mistaken, may even have a higher occupied floor than the Independent, plus higher floor-to-ceiling heights.

Anyway...

Actually the 360 added height after its initial design. I agree, this building has a great design and I'm sure the finishes will be nice, but 12 foot ceilings is the new "luxury standard". Based on their promo video, the website, and the construction of a modern sales office, you'd think this building would have 12 foot ceilings. That's a statement. I just think their marketing is disaligned with the product. 2 ft higher than the Austonian doesn't give them the bragging rights they feel they have now. 12 foot ceilings, 750'-800'

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by Spaceman

Start building now!!! This endless babble about a foot here or a foot there is useless. If a project is announced,then start the next day!!!

You have a point there. The longer it takes for a project to start construction the less confident I am. 99 Trinity is in that catagory. Heck even Hotel Zaza and they initially started by clearing the lot but nothing since.

[GoldenBoot]

Another possible cruel irony regarding the battle of tallest in Austin - should the actual structural height of this tower be 685'; at grade, this site is roughly 10' below the grade of the Austonian. So, even if the Independent is 2' taller in structural height, it will be ~8' shorter than the Austonian as measured from sea level.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by goldenboot

another possible cruel irony regarding the battle of tallest in austin - should the actual structural height of this tower be 685'; at grade, this site is roughly 10' below the grade of the austonian. So, even if the independent is 2' taller in structural height, it will be ~8' shorter than the austonian as measured from sea level.

lmao.

[Tech House]

Originally Posted by the Genral

...if I lived there, I could always tell my friends I live in the tall building that looks like it was involved in an earthquake. I wonder if we ever had an earthquake if it would actually correct it?

This building will have chiropractors drooling or suffering nightmares, but nothing in between those extremes.

[TXAlex]

This building in it's current form is pretty much a lot of money to MEH. There are so many cool designs out there and this is well very (for me) underwhelming.

[KevinFromTexas]

Well I messaged their Facebook page earlier this afternoon, so we'll see. I asked for the heights from street level to the main roof and to the mechanical penthouse/screen. I told them we were all curious about the building's height.

[KevinFromTexas]

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/r...r-new-high-rise-condo-tower-will-be.html

Skyline scraper: New high-rise condo tower will be Austin's tallest building
Apr 13, 2015, 8:12am CDT

Michael Theis
Digital Editor-
Austin Business Journal

The tallest residential building west of the Mississippi River may soon rise above Austin's skyline, as developers have laid out the specifics for a 685-foot, 58-story condominium tower downtown.

Developers envision the $300 million project, dubbed the Independent, as a gleaming, white Jenga-like tower at the northeast corner of West Third Street and West Avenue. Renderings show the building with offset floor sections that make it look something like an uneven stack of books.

The building will have a total of 950,000 square feet, including 491,000 square feet that is sellable. Developers plan to have 13,500 square feet of retail on the ground floor. Residents will have 370 units to choose from, ranging from 675 square-foot one-bedroom units to 3,485 square-foot three bedroom floor plans.

[ahealy]

As with every project I see, I vote for a large antenna right in the middle.